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George Will: I Am a 'Low-Voltage Atheist'
http://www.newsmax.com ^ | September 23, 2014 | Jason Devaney

Posted on 09/23/2014 5:30:28 PM PDT by NKP_Vet

In a wide-ranging interview, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer George Will discusses baseball, politics, and his status as an atheist.

"I'm an atheist. An agnostic is someone who is not sure. I'm pretty sure. I see no evidence of God," Will told Real Clear Religion.

"The basic question in life is not, 'Is there a God,' but 'Why does anything exist?' St. Thomas Aquinas said that there must be a first cause for everything, and we call the first cause 'God.' Fine, but it just has no hold on me.

"I majored in religion in college. I was very interested, but I just came to a different conclusion. I'm married to a fierce Presbyterian, and she raised our kids fierce Presbyterians.

"I'm an amiable, low-voltage atheist."

This is not the first time Will, a conservative who has written several books on politics and baseball, has made his views on religion public. In May, he told The Daily Caller that he was an atheist.

In the Real Clear Religion interview, Will was asked whether his atheistic views would preclude him from running for office as a conservative.

"It would be impossible for me to run for high office as a Republican," Will said. "Since I have no desire to run for office, it's a minor inconvenience! I think William F. Buckley put it well when he said that a conservative need not be religious, but he cannot despise religion.

"Russell Kirk never quite fathomed this, which is one of the reasons why I'm not a big fan of "The Conservative Mind." For him, conservatism without religion is meaningless."

As for the current state of religion in U.S. politics, Will said it is partly based on being politically correct.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...


TOPICS: General Discusssion; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Theology
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To: NKP_Vet

For a smart guy, he’s a fool.


21 posted on 09/23/2014 5:51:47 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: NKP_Vet

Hell is not a low intensity heat.


22 posted on 09/23/2014 5:54:07 PM PDT by Obadiah (None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.)
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To: NKP_Vet
I'm married to a fierce Presbyterian, and she raised our kids fierce Presbyterians.

Interesting. I wonder which wife it is. He's conflating two marriages. He is not now married to the woman who bore him multiple children.

I think William F. Buckley put it well when he said that a conservative need not be religious, but he cannot despise religion.

'm not a big fan of "The Conservative Mind." For him, conservatism without religion is meaningless."

Kirk got it right, as a subset of anything without reference to God is meaningless.

"I'm an amiable, low-voltage atheist."

Lazily irreligious.

23 posted on 09/23/2014 5:55:48 PM PDT by Lee N. Field ("And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" Gal 3:29)
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To: NKP_Vet
Psalm 19

How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!
How plainly it shows what he has done!

Each day announces it to the following day;
each night repeats it to the next.

No speech or words are used,
no sound is heard;

yet their message goes out to all the world
and is heard to the ends of the earth.

God made a home in the sky for the sun;
it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom,
like an athlete eager to run a race.

It starts at one end of the sky
and goes across to the other.
Nothing can hide from its heat.

Every person on earth can see evidence for the existence of God. Even if you are blind, you can feel the heat of the sun to testify to creation.

24 posted on 09/23/2014 5:56:09 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion ( "I didn't leave the Central Oligarchy Party. It left me." - Ronaldus Maximus)
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To: IncPen; Larry Lucido; F15Eagle

Sure. But he has clean looks, scrubbed and shampooed and....


25 posted on 09/23/2014 6:00:03 PM PDT by Gamecock
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To: NKP_Vet

I’m not surprised.


26 posted on 09/23/2014 6:05:30 PM PDT by Maelstorm (America wasn't founded with the battle cry of "Give me Liberty or cut me a government check!".)
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: NKP_Vet

If you are a humanist you are one of about 100 billion who have lived all time. That is like the significance of a grain of sand on the beach contributing to the beach. Only through being a son God do you have any significance. One amongst billions in a finite time space means nothing whereas one amongst billions in a infinite timespace is totally significant.


28 posted on 09/23/2014 6:17:27 PM PDT by Starstruck (If my reply offends, you probably don't understand sarcasm or criticism...or do.)
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To: NKP_Vet
I've noticed that a lot of atheists are the so-called intellectuals that think they know more anyone else, including God, and anyone that believes in God must be an inbred hick.

While I agree with the first part of that, I also disagree with the second.

However there are some who do fit that description in it's entirety. I don't think Will does..

29 posted on 09/23/2014 6:21:34 PM PDT by Cold Heat (Have you reached your breaking point yet? If not now....then when?)
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To: NKP_Vet

> That’s how Will has always came across to me.

The class where that attitude is taught is part of the PoliSci graduate program at Princeton.


30 posted on 09/23/2014 6:27:14 PM PDT by oblomov
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To: NKP_Vet

Low-voltage. George Will. It works!


31 posted on 09/23/2014 6:33:34 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The man who damns money obtained it dishonorably; the man who respects it earned it." --Ayn Rand)
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To: NKP_Vet
low-voltage atheist

and a high-voltage RINO

32 posted on 09/23/2014 6:56:48 PM PDT by rhinohunter (Freepers aren't booing -- they're yelling "Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz")
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To: NKP_Vet

“I majored in religion in college. I was very interested,


What more explanation is needed?


33 posted on 09/23/2014 7:00:31 PM PDT by ravenwolf (nd)
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To: NKP_Vet

Years ago, I thought Will was a genius.

Now I think he’s a highly educated imbecile.


34 posted on 09/23/2014 7:00:35 PM PDT by bimboeruption (REMEMBER MISSISSIPPI!)
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To: NKP_Vet

Try “George Won’t”


35 posted on 09/23/2014 7:03:36 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (/s /s /s /s /s, my replies are "liberally" sprinkled with them behind every word and letter.!)
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: aMorePerfectUnion

One of my favorite Psalms. And the next verses in the chapter probably in my top 5 passages:

Psalm 19:7-14New International Version (NIV)

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.


37 posted on 09/23/2014 8:14:16 PM PDT by time4good
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To: NKP_Vet

38 posted on 09/23/2014 9:56:53 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Conservatism is the political disposition of grown-ups.)
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To: NKP_Vet

Will speaks like any true gut major. Engineers and scientists tend to be religious. Once you get a glimpse on what it takes for all this to be random, you become a believer.

If only Will could do math.


39 posted on 09/23/2014 10:19:49 PM PDT by RinaseaofDs
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To: VerySadAmerican

Yes, and Satan has some high amperage waiting for him someday.


40 posted on 09/24/2014 7:24:42 AM PDT by Patriot365
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